RZA Stands by Russell Crowe in Azealia Banks Hotel Dispute

Rapper took to Facebook with a lengthy statement

By McKenna Aiello Oct 20, 2016 7:41 PMTags
Russell Crowe, RZACraig Barritt/Getty Images

RZA is telling his side of the ongoing scandal between Russell Crowe and Azealia Banks

In a lengthy statement posted to the rapper's Facebook page Thursday, RZA offers his take on the moments leading up to Banks' claim that the Oscar-winning actor "called me a n----r, choked me, threw me out and spat at me" in a Beverly Hills hotel suite. 

"Peace. Normally I don't respond to negative social media attacks towards me. Yet in this case of Azealia Banks I'm compelled to respond. Firstly I only wish the best for her and any struggling artist in this complex industry," RZA starts, before explaining he first met the hip hop artist while casting his upcoming drama Coco

"I heard the rumors of her problems in the industry but disregarded them with the rationality everyone is innocent until proven guilty," he continues. "So my producer and I fought for her to be in the film and we succeeded. During the filming process things ran smooth and she delivered. Thus my only experience with her had been professional. The only brief social moment was at the wrap party. Therefore 'I HAD NO REAL EXPERIENCE OF HER SOCIAL BEHAVIOR...'" 

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RZA then goes on to reveal he offered Banks "economic help" and assisted her in securing a record deal, despite hearing from a friend about her "volatile" behavior.

The 47-year-old then claims he gave the "212" performer career advice, and purchased her plane ticket to Los Angeles as well as hotel stay prior to their scheduled meeting. "I invited her to meet me at the BHH Polo Lounge. Yet I head also planned on spending some time with my Buddy [Russell Crowe] in his suite so I ask him can she join. He says "cool Bobby" so I invited her," RZA writes of the incident. 

"Before the night is over Azealia is insulting half the room she becomes loud and obnoxious. There was nothing funny about her behavior. I felt a little embarrassed because she was my guest," he recalls, later adding, "Still verbal abuse can be tolerated but when it goes physical... Azealia threaten to cut a girl in the face with a glass, then actually grabs a glass and physically attacks for no logical reason. Russell blocked the attack and expelled her from the suite."

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RZA then attributes Banks' behavior to "meds or booze," before claiming he took her home, ultimately slamming any legal charges brought against Crowe. 

"I did not hear Russell call her a N::gg:::: [sic] I'm not trying to protect Russell from anything he is a man of his own Caliber," he concludes. "My art, talent and success speaks for it self and Azealia's recent slander of me and self victimization reflect's the personality of the person that was in that room that night. I have a wife, daughters, sisters and females on my staff so I protect women everyday. I pray none of them ever behave the way I witnessed Azealia Banks behaved that night."

A spokesperson for Banks tells E! News, "Azealia's manager is in disbelief that RZA has pinned so many black female stereotypes and stigma's on Azealia in his statement."

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Azealia Banks Demands a Public Apology From Russell Crowe: ''He Thinks I'm Just Some Little Black Girl From Harlem''

RZA's latest online admission comes one day after Banks spoke with E! News exclusively about the alleged dispute. 

Azealia's account of how she ended up in the same room as Crowe aligned with RZA's, though their recollection differs when after she claimed to have joked with the group about making horror movies and poking fun at their work, tensions escalated after Crowe made a comment and another woman threatened her aggressively. 

"I said, 'If I throw something at you and you get hurt, then the party is going to be done. Then we're all going to look bad and it's going to be a terrible night,'" she told us.

At that point, Banks said Crowe turned to her so that only she could hear and whispered in her ear, "Even if you tried, you wouldn't even get close enough, you n----r."

She continued, explaining, "Next thing you know, I'm getting choked up, I'm getting dragged out of this room and spat on. I felt betrayed, I felt humiliated, I felt low. It almost felt like a set-up," adding that no one, including RZA, came to her defense. 

Crowe has yet to comment publicly on the evening's events. 

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